JLS Immigration Lawyer Specialists

04/09/2026

Latest Immigration News: Residence Permit Fees to Rise Sharply from October 1, 2026
On August 28, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA) published an official announcement titled "Revision of Residence Permit Fee Amounts Effective October 1, 2026 (Reiwa 8)" on its website. Under the enforcement order of the amended Immigration Control Act, fees for change of status of residence, extension of period of stay, and permanent residence permits will rise significantly for applications filed on or after October 1, 2026.
【Key Changes】
● Change of Status of Residence / Extension of Period of Stay (in-person)
　Current: flat rate of ¥6,000 → After revision: tiered by length of stay granted (e.g. ¥33,000 for 1 year, ¥75,000 for 5 years or more, etc.)
　※ Online applications will be about ¥3,000-¥10,000 cheaper than in-person (except stays of 3 months or less)
● Permanent Residence Permit　Current: ¥10,000 → After revision: ¥200,000 (a 20-fold increase)
● Payment method is also changing: from revenue stamps (収入印紙) to convenience-store payment or bank transfer (internet banking available). Credit cards and QR-code payments will not be accepted.
【Fee Reduction Measures】
Applicants whose financial situation is comparable to those requiring public assistance under the Public Assistance Act, and who are recognized as needing humanitarian consideration, may apply for a fee reduction (change of status/extension: ¥10,000 / permanent residence: ¥20,000). However, full exemption applies only to holders of "Diplomat" or "Official" status — financial hardship alone does not qualify. Media reports also note that most refugee status applicants may not meet the reduction requirement (receipt of a protection allowance), so many could be excluded.
【Advice from a Veteran Gyoseishoshi (Immigration Specialist)】
If you are planning to apply for permanent residence or renew your period of stay soon, the fee you pay will depend heavily on your application timing. Applications accepted in person before September 30 may still be charged under the current, lower fee schedule — so if your renewal is coming up, we strongly recommend preparing early. Please consult a professional in advance to determine which option is more advantageous for your case.
Do you have any questions about this fee revision, or would you like us to check how it applies to your specific case? Feel free to leave a comment below!

Need a Japan visa or status of residence? Our licensed Gyoseishoshi (immigration specialist) supports applications in English, Japanese and Vietnamese. Free first consultation, clear fees, and guidance from document prep to filing with immigration authorities.

28/08/2026

🚲 [Traffic Rules] Prevent fines and accidents! 3 Dangerous Bicycle Riding Habits You Must Avoid 🚲

Hello everyone! Do you usually use a bicycle to go shopping or commute to the station?
Thinking "It's fine because it's not a car" or "Everyone else is doing it" could actually mean you are committing an illegal act prohibited by Japan's Road Traffic Act!

To ensure a safe weekend, please make sure to check these 3 rules:

Never use a smartphone while riding ("Nagara Smartphone"): Looking at your phone screen or holding it in your hand while riding a bicycle is strictly forbidden by law. If you cause an accident and injure someone, you could face massive compensation claims (millions to tens of millions of yen).

Do not ride while wearing earphones/headphones: Riding while listening to music or talking on earphones is extremely dangerous because you cannot hear approaching vehicles or emergency sirens. You will be stopped by police officers and subject to warnings or fines.

Holding an umbrella while riding on rainy days is a NO: Riding with one hand while holding an umbrella means you can only use one brake, making it easy to lose balance in the wind and fall. Wear a raincoat on rainy days instead.

Getting caught by the police and receiving a criminal record (such as a fine) risks your future visa renewals or Permanent Residency applications being DENIED due to "bad conduct." Please follow the rules and ride safely!

Licensed Gyoseishoshi (immigration lawyer) in Japan supporting visa applications, status of residence, and work permits in English. Free first consultation, transparent fees, and support in Japanese, English and Vietnamese.

20/08/2026

[This Week's Alert] Heat Stroke Warning Expands & Typhoon No. 18 Approaching
— Disaster and heat-safety information foreign residents should know right now —

Hello everyone, this is Yamaguchi, your gyoseishoshi (immigration lawyer). This week, instead of immigration policy news, I want to share two pieces of information that directly affect your safety.

① Heat Stroke Warning issued for 14 prefectures (August 19)
On August 19, 2026, Japan's Ministry of the Environment and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a "Heat Stroke Warning Alert" for 14 prefectures, ranging from Tokyo (Ogasawara Islands) to Kagoshima Prefecture. This year's Heat Stroke Warning / Special Warning Alert operating period runs from April 22 to October 21, 2026, and further alerts are expected as long as the dangerous heat continues.

The alert is issued when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) heat index in an area is forecast to reach a "dangerous" level. Residents are advised to avoid strenuous outdoor activity or long outdoor work, drink water and take salt regularly, and not hesitate to use air conditioning. Employers of Technical Intern Trainees or Specified Skilled Workers should also review their heat stroke prevention measures for outdoor and factory work (ensuring proper breaks and hydration).

② Typhoon No. 18 (Soudelor) strengthening as it approaches (JMA update, 3:50 PM, August 20)
According to JMA's update issued at 3:50 PM on August 20, Typhoon No. 18 is moving northward near the Chuuk Islands and continuing to strengthen. It is forecast to reach very strong intensity near the Ogasawara Islands around August 23, then reach the sea south of mainland Japan around August 24–25. Depending on its future path, transportation and flights could be affected over the coming weekend. If you are planning a trip home, welcoming family to Japan, or have an appointment at an immigration bureau, please check the latest weather updates regularly.

Where foreign residents can find disaster information
・ISA's "Foreign Residents' Support Portal" (Emergency/Disaster section): multilingual disaster information in one place.
・Japan Meteorological Agency: provides disaster information in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and other languages.
・"Safety tips" app (supervised by the Japan Tourism Agency): push notifications for earthquakes, tsunamis, and weather warnings in 15 languages.

This information may change, so please always check the latest official sources.

Do you have any questions about this? If there's a topic you'd like us to cover next month, please let us know in the comments!

Immigration law specialists in Japan. We handle Business Manager visas, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Specified Skilled Worker, Dependent visas, permanent residence and naturalization. Nationwide, free first consultation, English and Vietnamese support. No success fee if....

14/08/2026

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04/08/2026

【IMPORTANT】Scheduled Suspension of the Online System During Obon and Warning About Extreme Congestion at Immigration Counters

The Immigration Services Agency (ISA) has announced that, in addition to the usual surge of applications around the Obon holiday, they will be performing maintenance on the new card system (Mynaportal linkage) this year. Consequently, the online application system will be temporarily suspended.

【This Week's Key Points and Practical Advice】

Suspension Period for the Online Application System
From 6:00 PM on Friday, August 14, 2026, to 11:59 PM on Sunday, August 16, 2026 (Scheduled)
During this period, all online services, including applications for change of status, visa extensions, and switching to the Specific Residence Card, will be completely unavailable. If you are supporting foreign employees whose visas expire in mid-August, please ensure their applications are completed "this week (before the system shutdown)."

Immigration Counter Operations and Congestion During Obon
During the Obon period (e.g., Aug 13–16), regional immigration bureau counters will remain open on regular weekdays. However, due to the online system being down and the influx of foreign residents visiting during their holidays, this will be "one of the most crowded times of the year." You can expect waiting times of several hours. Unless it is an absolute emergency, we strongly recommend visiting after the Obon holidays.

Don't Forget to Check the "Special Re-entry" Box When Traveling Home
For those traveling to their home countries during Obon: If you forget to check the box for the "Special Re-entry Permit (re-entry within 1 year)" at the airport departure gate, your current visa will instantly become invalid. Please kindly remind everyone to double-check this before leaving Japan.

At your workplace, how are you reminding your foreign staff about "checking visa expiration dates" and "precautions when traveling abroad" for the Obon holidays? If you have any effective internal communication tips, please share them in the comments below!